Hands down, the best feature of the house.
-
-
-
Reunion, indeed!
On Friday afternoon, right before I left to pick up Shep from camp, the phone rang.
It was my high school friend Jessica, whom I haven’t seen in person since our twenties, although we’ve communicated via email and Facebook. When talk of our class reunion started to surface, I told her she was welcome to come stay at our place, but it sounded like she wasn’t going to make it.
Until Friday afternoon, when I picked up the phone, and Jessica said, “I think I want to come to the reunion.” Which would be a perfectly normal phone call if the reunion weren’t happening the following night and she didn’t live thousands of miles away.
I gave her my two cents worth (COME!) and offered up our basement as lodging. An hour later she called back and said the whole family was boarding a plane in a matter of hours. I’m such a planner that I adore when others are completely spontaneous. Hooray!
In between the call and their arrival, I hosted another high school friend, Emily, and her family for dinner. Emily has not changed ONE BIT, and I mean that in the best possible way. Tom and I hung out with them for most of the reunion events—it was so good to have such fine company.
At midnight, our house guests arrived. Jessica is exactly the same, and I remembered why we spent all that time hanging out back in the day. Odie and Tom immediately fell into talking about tools and workshops, and they even moved all the wood from the freshly chopped down trees the next day. Their kids, Neely and Beck jumped right in with our kids and never looked back. (Have you seen those babies? SCRUMPTIOUS.)
The reunion itself was precisely what I expected it to be. Most people were doing great and seemed genuinely excited to be back in the company of those with whom they’d spent many years. Tom, Odie, Emily’s husband Mike, and another friend’s wife attempted to sneak into the Class of ’89 photo, but got kicked out. We later staged their own photo (above).
By far the best part of the weekend was reconnecting with those few close friends. I adore that we were able to pick up right where we left off, and our children and partners just jumped in and followed suit. I lobbied hard for some folks to come live in our back yard, but so far no one seems to be biting. In the meantime, I need to figure out how to fold the continent in half and make visits more doable.
-
This is why we love our FedEx driver
The dogs went to the kennel today in preparation for our trip to San Diego, but they were not forgotten.
-
Down come the trees
Ever since we built the house, our tree problem has been looming. The tree in front of the house was hollow (see first photo), and after all these crazy summer storms, I've been a little worried that some morning we’ll wake up to find the tree horizontal on some very expensive spot.
So down it came, along with two others in the back yard.
I’m in a bit of a state of mourning, but I suppose it will be fun to go tree shopping this fall.
-
-
Happy birthday, Barb.
Today was Barb's birthday, so we went to her house for dinner. Of course, she cooked for the whole crew, because goodness knows that woman can't sit still! Jeff, Renita, and Diane all came along to celebrate—and much celebrating there was.
A few years back, when I thought about my life, I always assumed that being a mother would be the hardest job in my life. And it has been exhausting—the diapers, discipline, and ever-changing parade of obstacles. But as my children grow, I'm watching them blossom into their own beings. For the moment, that means going to school or beginning to develop their own world view, but I see what's around the corner. Their own social lives, college, and ultimately a move to places that are probably much further than I'd like.
And that's when I realize there's a much harder job coming: Mother-in-Law. It must be the most excruciating thing to raise these babies until they're grown, only to watch them leave and form new families of their own. To hope they've found the right person who will complete them in the way you used to, the person that makes them joyful and whole.
I know that's what children are supposed to do, and that it brings with it much happiness. But it's also got to be incredibly difficult. I hope I can find that magic spot where I can be supportive and involved, but let them live independent lives. I know it's going to be difficult to find that perfect balance. I hope I'm up to the task.
Lately, these thoughts make me think of Barb. How much faith she placed in me on her son's wedding day. How she has supported our union and family. How she adores her grandchildren, but is wise enough to leave the parenting in our hands.
I can't even think of words big enough to thank her for the gift of her son, her acceptance of me, or to tell her that I hold such reverence for the work she does day in and out.
But thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And the very happiest of birthdays.
-
Monday evening, 7:13pm
Sometimes I forget you’re only six.
You wake up too early thanks to a little sister with a big set of lungs. You go at a speed I can’t even fathom, and pack more into a day than I do in a week. And then you want to stay up just a bit later than everyone else because you’re older, and that’s a right you’ve earned.
And at the end of it all, you are so tired. Life just wipes you out.
You and I snuck off to my bedroom to watch that Nova about monarchs that we’ve watched a zillion times. I left for a bit to help Tom get Shep and Ellery into bed, and when I came back, you were out cold.
It’s when you sleep that, despite those long legs, I remember you are still so small. There you were, dwarfed in our big bed.
I need to remember this on days when I set expectations too high. You melt down often. On days when we’re walking down different paths.
-
Scientists at work
Neko met Duncan at Garden Camp. Duncan brought grubs from home to give away to the other campers, and a bond was forged. In Neko’s world, free grubs = friendship.
We decided to have Duncan’s family over for brunch. Neko and Duncan spent the entire morning playing “scientist”. Duncan ran around and found specimens and brought them back to the lab so Neko could study them. By lunch, they had assembled a science table, and Neko was happily sharing her expertise with anyone who she could con into coming over.
We also discovered we like Duncan’s parents! Especially Tom, who might have actually squealed when he discovered that he a Glenn both own the Merzbox (a 50 CD obscure noise music box set). I discovered that Patricia and I both roll our eyes when we talk about the Merzbox.
An excellent Sunday. (Except for the end, where Neko had an hour and a half temper tantrum. But the rest? Good times.)
-
Pierson comes to visit
Pierson, John, and Alycia came into town. Along with Barb, Ev, Renita, and Diane they came over for dinner. Of course, for the kids, all the grown-ups were secondary to Pierson, who they couldn't have been more excited to see.
On a side note, we have new bounce house! The old one lasted us nearly five years, and was one of the best investments we’ve made in our sanity. The new one has a smaller jump area, but it has a slide and water capabilities which turn it into over-the-top fun. As it was too cold for swimming today, pictures of waterpalooza forthcoming…
